Gotta dance! Gotta dance!
He sings and skips and tap dances through the rain water in Herndon, happy and "in love."
Folks, that's real water pouring on his head, just like in the movie!
Applause to the technical director who accomplished this feat in Singin' in the Rain now playing at NextStop Theatre Company.
The dancing and choreography are the stars in this production, based on the classic 1952 movie with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, and Gene Kelly.
NextStop's show is choreographed by one of its own stars, Robert Mintz, who plays the boyish "Cosmo" in a role which binds the story with his silly antics and smiles while he twirls, hops, and dances across the floor, and he plays trombone.
Continuing their string of hits at NextStop and other theatres in the DMV are Max Doolittle, lighting designer, and Evan Hoffman, Herndon High graduate, who directs and designed the set.
It's an elevated stage on a stage in this 1920s Hollywood show with colored lights and a massive red curtain which opens from time to time to reveal the backstage and action there: the dressing gowns, ladders, actors conversing, and all necessary accoutrements that go into a big production like this one.
The plot involves a villainess, the screechy, possessive Ms. Lina Lamont (Carolyn Burke) who hangs on to her beau, a Hollywood star, Don Lockwood (Wood van Meter). Despite her catlike howls (which could be softened a bit), Ms. Burke is a lady of confidence and assurance whose slithery mannerisms effectively exaggerate her character and make her more unlikable.
It works!
Her goal is to make Don succumb to her wiles, despite his affinity for a new girlfriend, the cute, adorable, and innocent Kathy Selden (Morgan Kelleher), who pops out of a cake!
This being the age of transition from silent films to talkies, Ms. Selden's voice becomes Ms. Lamont's who can't talk for screeching.
Do you get the picture?
Scene stealers are the constantly smiling and conniving Zelda (Melrose Pyne Anderson), who plays another starlet, and "R.F." Simpson (Duane Monahan) with his powerful, deep d.j. voice who is the studio head, ostensibly calling the shots.
Eight actors dance and sing across the small stage and magically seem to enlarge the floor space. The audience gets a hand in, too.
Sitting in an elevated window overlooking the action is the bouncy music director, Elisa Rosman, who plays keyboards with alternating drummers Alex Aucoin and Glenn Scimonelli.
Moyenda Kulemeka has designed beautiful gowns and apparel for the times.
The Broadway play, which was directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, followed the movie by 33 years and lasted about a year, but Wikipedia says the movie is regarded by some as the best film comedy ever made, and it is listed as the fifth greatest American movie of all time.
If you miss the Herndon show, you can see the film July 10 at West End Cinema.
Other NextStop cast members are Elizabeth Spikes, Ethan Van Slyke and swings, Suzy Alden and Joseph McAlonan.
Creative staff also includes Hollyann Bucci, assistant director; Kevin Alexander, sound; Laura Moody, stage manager; Amelia McGinnis and Kate York, assistant stage managers; Alex Wade, properties; and Dylan Lambert, choreography assistant.
Until July 1 NextStop offers deep discounts on next season's shows starting at $119 for six performances. Go here or call 866-811-4111 for information.
What: Singin' in the Rain by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed
When: Now through June 23, 2019, Thursday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. and a Sunday evening show on June 16 at 7 p.m.
Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. Lots of great restaurants nearby.
Lighted, free parking: Available near the door.
Admission: General admission tickets start at $40. Buy online or through the box office at 866-811-4111.
Duration: About two hours with one intermission
Rating: G
Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats
For more information: 703-481-5930 or info@nextstoptheatre.org
patricialesli@gmail.com
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